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I wholeheartedly stand with my former WNYC colleagues on this, but let me explain why it’s so important their demands are met. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/03/nyregion/wync-audrey-cooper-staff-revolt.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/0...
The old VP of News, who Audrey would replace, never once promoted any person of color on staff to any positions of power, editor or host, during my 2 years there.
When it was time to fill L*on*rd L*pa*e’s old host position, 4 QUALIFIED black and brown staffers drafted detailed proposals for a “committee.”
Not one received a response, not even a thank you for applying. Instead, they hired someone outside the company. Sound familiar?
Not one received a response, not even a thank you for applying. Instead, they hired someone outside the company. Sound familiar?
In the transition before launching that show, a white reporter was asked to guest host. A white guest he was interviewing decided to drop the n-word on the air in a discussion about race.
There was no policy on how to address that until the black staff at the station drew it up
There was no policy on how to address that until the black staff at the station drew it up
I was once told by one of the white editors (they’re all white, in NYC no less) that they couldn’t send a reporter to Broadway Junction to get vox on the L train shutdown in lieu of Bedford Ave...because it was too far.
But they sent a white reporter to Africa for a story...
But they sent a white reporter to Africa for a story...
Any reporting on black or brown neighborhoods always happened to be a grant-funded project or mostly centered around an anniversary. Just google WNYC and a black neighborhood and tell me what you find.
A white reporter & editor thought that it was ok to headline a story about fish being harmed by pharmaceuticals in the river as “FISH BE TRIPPIN.”
I and two other black staff had to explain to them that using AAVE was not at all appropriate, nonetheless on a serious story.
I and two other black staff had to explain to them that using AAVE was not at all appropriate, nonetheless on a serious story.
When the head of the data news team left, the VP had an opportunity to hire a POC. Instead, he hired a white editor who couldn’t code.
In one instance, a black staffer had to edit a project for him so that it could launch on time.
2 young POC on that team left the station.
In one instance, a black staffer had to edit a project for him so that it could launch on time.
2 young POC on that team left the station.
When WNYC bought Gothamist, they asked ppl to write for them temporarily for 6 months. When they either didn’t like the candidates or not enough people were interested. My name came up.
I was told to be “open” though I never expressed interest in reporting again…
I was told to be “open” though I never expressed interest in reporting again…
After I let the VP explain how I could “contribute,” I asked who would run social for WNYC if I took the position. I was told the reporters “could write their own tweets.”
Essentially, my entire job was eliminated in that one sentence.
Essentially, my entire job was eliminated in that one sentence.
You had to know God himself to get an original podcast pitch greenlit at WNYC Studios. All of the producers were white, not even the “famed” 2 Dope Queens had a black producer.
If any POC were hired, they were all temps and often were cut at the end of fiscal. With the exception of the black celebs they hired to do one-off podcasts and the wonderful hosts of Nancy...but look what happened there.
After realizing my white counterparts at WNYC Studios got more resources, new job titles and higher salaries, I decided to take on a freelance gig on the weekends as many staff had side gigs to make ends meet.
For 8 months, I worked 7 days a week, 8 hours a day with no breaks. The stress caused me to get sick every 2 months.
The pay equity study done by Proskauer Rose did nothing to address this.
The pay equity study done by Proskauer Rose did nothing to address this.
As departures grew after the “troubles,” it became clear our VP would be forced out at some point. He came to NABJ and the other affinity conferences, not to recruit to diversify the newsroom, but to LOOK FOR A JOB HIMSELF!
We even found his resume in the printer with a calendar printout of where he was interviewing that week 
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When I finally got the opportunity to leave he told me I would “probably get lost” at a big company like NBC, even though I worked at national outlets before coming to the station.
In order to prepare for my exit interview, I wrote a list of how I felt at the end of my time.
In order to prepare for my exit interview, I wrote a list of how I felt at the end of my time.
I say all this to say, I spoke up A LOT during my time there. My former colleagues say that my voice is missed and when I left I told the staff to continue to speak up, but it’s clear no one is listening.
